If you haven’t yet paid a visit to The River
Restaurant, then you’re missing a trick. Located on the First Floor of the
Lowry Hotel, overlooking the river, it’s a beautiful setting to sit and enjoy
your meal. And Executive Chef Andrew Green’s new Summer A la Carte menu is the
perfect excuse to check it out.
The new menu brings together classic flavours and presents them in a new and exciting way. The cooking is exceptional and it’s really all about the flavour here. Order the Selection of Warm Breads with Neverend farm butter and (seriously good) olive tapenade (£3.95) alongside one of their fine selection of wines as you browse the wonderful selection of summer dishes.
Meat
lovers will be delighted to see return of the Josper Grill, their charcoal grill which cooks meat at around 400 degrees, adding a smoky flavour, while keeping it as juicy as possible. New meaty delights featuring on Chef
Green’s menu include the Foie Gras starter with rhubarb, elderberry, apricot
compote and toasted brioche (£14.00) – a fun and fresh take on this classic
French starter.
Meaty mains include Seared Cheshire Flat Iron Beef with artichoke, ox cheek, girolle mushrooms, asparagus and red wine jus (£21.95) or their Duck Breast with confit duck leg, heritage carrots, jersey fondats and paesana olive jus (£21.95) – both proper meaty, yet elegant, dishes with bags of flavour.
There is a fabulous selection of fish and seafood
dishes. Starters include Asian seared scallops, turnip textures, samphire and
vanilla foam (13.95). This simple, stylish dish celebrates the lovely scallops,
the turnips add sweetness, the vanilla foam gives a slightly smoky flavour and the samphire
puree brings that salty flavour which is notoriously delicious with fish and seafood.
Their Stone Bass fillet with lobster risotto and spinach puree (£24.95) is a wonderful choice for fish lovers. It’s a vibrant dish, focused on this rarely used fish, and each of the accompaniments adds depth to this juicy fish fillet.
Vegetarians
may often feel disappointed at the limited or mundane selection of dishes
thrust upon them when dining out. But they can expect to be treated here with exciting
veggie dishes that vegetarians and meat eaters alike can revel in. The Beetroot
and Tonka Bean Panna Cotta starter with goat’s cheese mousse, beetroot carpaccio
and crumbled pistachio (£9.95) is unbelievably fresh and totally different.
For Mains, an Aubergine and Parmesan Torte with crispy oyster mushroom, wild garlic pesto and aubergine caviar (£16.50), won’t disappoint. It's refreshing to see such luxurious options for the meat-free diner.
On the sweet side of things, the pastry team have been busy creating some fabulous delights for you to enjoy for your after dinner treat. Indulgent options include Bitter dark Caramelia chocolate mousse, with caramel gel, banana honey comb and chocolate soil (£8.50) and Coconut Malibu Souffle wth pineapple sorbet (£7.95).
For something lighter, choose the Lemon Meringue Sorbet with passion fruit curd, toasted crumble and candied lemon confit (£7.95). They also have a Selection of Homemade Ice Creams and Sorbets (£7.95) or, for the ‘savoury-toothed’ diner, there is a selection of local cheeses, served with celery, fruit chutney and artisan crackers (12.95).
The River Restaurant’s Summer A la Carte menu finds the perfect middle ground between innovation and tradition. Each dish centres around a core ingredient and everything else works to enhance that flavour. While we still cling on to the last bit of what we call "Summer", make sure you don't miss out on this fabulous curation of dishes.